Thanks, Makes sense. Before we were asking $348 ;-) but then our program was that we'd giveaway shares for the first 100 people. The whole thought process behind that was,
We are a small team of hustlers wanting to build the best experience for freelancers to work with their clients. Soon in our journey, we realized building a startup is a lot of work, and it’s hard to focus on multiple areas. This is why we’ve launched the Elite 100 program and opening our platform to only 100 users for the first 6 months. We’ll not focus on growth, but only to serve the 100 users in the best way.
It was also deep-rooted in my conviction that the disparity between the rich and everyone else is larger than ever in the United States and the rest of the world. I believe a company working with masses should also give everyone a share of the benefits gained, this aligns with my personal mission as well, I’ve been working with communities for many years (and even in my personal capacity https://www.facebook.com/COD3BOY/posts/10155519455529473) and I believe the real success happens when we have a lot of people coming together on a mission and everyone is benefitted. By giving away 100,000 shares of our company we stand by that, and says when we are successful everyone who were with us will be benefited too.
Honestly, just don't bother with the share grants. There are massive legal landmines as securities are highly regulated. There's no benefit to you nor to the random people you want to give shares to. Plus the incentive is all wrong. You want your customers to choose your product on its own basis, not because you're giving out chachkis.
> By giving away 100,000 shares of our company we stand by that, and says when we are successful everyone who were with us will be benefited too.
That's not what it says to me. What it says is that you are naive and your shares are worthless. If your company ever makes it you'll just dilute those shares to nothing.
I'm not a lawyer, but the share thing sounds illegal. I don't think you should be doing that, otherwise you will probably get in trouble with the SEC. Companies usually only sell (or give away) shares to the public when they have an IPO.
If that's how you feel, making your company a cooperative or a platform cooperative is probably a safer bet, albeit possibly more work. Giving away shares, while it appears easy, is illegal and has other disadvantages.
It was also deep-rooted in my conviction that the disparity between the rich and everyone else is larger than ever in the United States and the rest of the world.
It's a nice sentiment, but the most proven way of dealing with this is to get actual cash into their pockets without adding to the income disparity, which in this case would be giving e.g. LinkedIn or Robert Half or whoever (exploitative rent-seekers) a big slice of any money they make through a particular gateway (you).
We are a small team of hustlers wanting to build the best experience for freelancers to work with their clients. Soon in our journey, we realized building a startup is a lot of work, and it’s hard to focus on multiple areas. This is why we’ve launched the Elite 100 program and opening our platform to only 100 users for the first 6 months. We’ll not focus on growth, but only to serve the 100 users in the best way.
It was also deep-rooted in my conviction that the disparity between the rich and everyone else is larger than ever in the United States and the rest of the world. I believe a company working with masses should also give everyone a share of the benefits gained, this aligns with my personal mission as well, I’ve been working with communities for many years (and even in my personal capacity https://www.facebook.com/COD3BOY/posts/10155519455529473) and I believe the real success happens when we have a lot of people coming together on a mission and everyone is benefitted. By giving away 100,000 shares of our company we stand by that, and says when we are successful everyone who were with us will be benefited too.